Vacuum breaker for can making machines



April 3, 1934. E. KRUG El AL VACUUM BREAKER FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Filed Sept. 10, 1952 I (I, ATTOR v Y6 Patented Apr. 3, 1934 UNITED STATES VACUUM BREAKER FOR CAN MAKING MACHINES Emil Krug, Lee H. 0001, and Charles A. Bain,

Modesto, Oalif., assignors to The Borden Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 10, 1932, Serial No. 632,552

3 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in can making machines and more particularly to an improvement in the means for breaking the vacuum in the suction devices which feed can body blanks into such machines.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient mechanism for breaking the vacuum or suction through the vacuum line leading to a suction cup which engages and withdraws can body blanks from the bottom of a stack of can body blanks in a hopper. The improved vacuum breaking-means operates in such manner that the blanks successively removed from the hopper are each released at the proper moment for shifting to the mechanism which forms them into the cylindrical can bodies. More specifically the invention comprises a vertically reciprocating suction plunger connected by a tube line to a valve chamber in which a slide valve operates, first to connect the suction plunger line with a vacuum-creating device, such as a pump, and then, in proper synchronism with other mechanisms in the machine, to break the suction so that the can body blank which has been taken from the hopper and is held by the suction plunger is released.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of. a portion of a can body forming machine to which the improved vacuum breaking device has been applied, and Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the suction device and valve mechanism, taken at right angles to Fig. 1, and looking from the left in that figure.

In the drawing that part of the frame of a conventional type of can body forming machine to which the devices of the present invention are applied is indicated at 3. A table 4 is supported on the frame, and a hopper 5 containing the can body blanks 6 is mounted on the table. A supply of blanks is maintained in the hopper by means of the chain conveyor 7, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 1.

The blanks 6 are so supported in the hopper that they are successively accessible through the open bottom in the hopper to a suction cup 9 located on the upper end of a vertically reciprocated plunger. The plunger-has a tubular upper portion 10 threaded on the upper end of a rod 11 vertically movable in guides 12 and 13 located on the frame portion 3 of the machine. The lower end of the rod 11 is pivotally connected at 14 to a slide valve 15 movable within a tubular valve casing or chamber 16. Screws 1'? extending through ears 18 formed on the valve casing secure the casing to the frame portion 3.

A longitudinal groove 19 is formed in the face of the valve 15; as shown in Fig. 2. Spaced nipples 20 and 21 leading from the interior of the valve casing connect with tubes 22 and 23 respectively, the tube 28 connecting with a pipe 24 leading from a pump or other suction-creating device, not shown. A shut-off valve 35 is located in the pipe 24. The tube 22 is connected tothe lower end of. a vertically disposed pipe 25' which is connected at its upper end to a flexible tube 26 attached to a nipple 2'"? leading into the bore 28 formed in the tubular portion 10 of the plunger.

The plunger, comprising the rod 11,.the atwith the lower face of the lowermost plate 8 in L the hopper. This upward movement of the plunger draws the valve 15 upwardly in its casing 16 and causes the groove 19 to connect and act as a passage between the nipples 20 and 21.

The vacuum then created in the pipe 23 is communicated through the connected passages 19, 20, 22, 25 and 26 and through the bore 28 to suction cup 9 so that the cup adheres to the lowermost plate in the hopper. As the plunger is lowered, the suction cup draws downwardly on the lowermost plate, springs it out of the hopper, and carries it down to a position where it is engaged by suitable means for carrying it to the can body forming mechanism. At 31 are shown conveyor elements which receive and carry off the plates delivered by the plunger. When the plunger reaches its lowered position, the vacuum in the line leading to the suction cup is broken, because at this time the valve 15 has reached the lowered position shown in Fig. 2, where it has shut ofi the nipple 21 and has connected the nipple 20 by way of the passage 19 to an opening 32 in the valve casing 16. Air entering through the opening 32 releases the plate from the suction cup.

The action of the mechanism is such that the vacuum is maintained from the time the suction cup first contacts with the lowermost plate 8 in the hopper to the time the plate is brought down to a position where it' is engaged by the conveyor elements 31. The vacuum being then broken, the

l to

released plate is carried to the body forming machine by the conveyor.

What we claim is:--

1. A suction breaking device for feeding mechanisms for can body forming machines, including a hopper for holding can body blanks, a suction plunger for engaging and withdrawing successive blanks from the bottom of the hopper, the plunger having a tubular portion at one of its ends, a suction cup on the end of said tubular portion, a slide valve attached to the opposite end of the plunger, a fixed valve casing in which said valve reciprocates, a pipe line connecting the interior of the valve casing with the tubular portion of the plunger, a pipe line leading from suctioncreating means to the valve casing, an opening in the valve casing, and a groove in the face of the valve adapted to act as a passage between the pipe line from the suction-creating means and the pipe line leading to the tubular portion of the plunger when the plunger is in raised position, and adapted to connect the pipe line leading from the tubular part of the plunger with the opening in the valve casing when the plunger reaches its lowered position.

2. A suction breaking device for feeding mechanisms in can body-forming machines, including a hopper for holding can body blanks, a plunger adapted for vertical reciprocation below the hopper, a suction cup carried by the plunger for adherent engagement with successive lowermost blanks in the hopper, a valve slidingly operated by the plunger, a valve casing in which the valve moves, a pair of spaced openings leading from the valve casing, a pipe line leading from suction-creating means and connected to one of the openings, a pipe line extending from the other opening to the suction cup, a third opening in the valve casing leading to atmosphere, and a groove in the valve adapted to connect the two pipe lines when the valve is raised and adapted to connect the third opening with the pipe line leading to the suction cup when the plunger reaches its lower position.

3. In a device for feeding can body blanks, a hopper, a hollow suction plunger for withdrawing fiat blanks from the hopper, means for reciproeating the suction plunger, a fixed valve slidingly moved by the plunger, a valve casing in which the valve is moved, said casing having a vent to the atmosphere, a pipe line connecting suctioncreating means with the valve casing, another pipe line connecting the valve casing with the hollow plunger, said valve having a groove for forming a passage between both pipe lines when the plunger is elevated and for opening one of the pipe lines to atmosphere through said vent when the plunger is lowered.

EMIL KRUG. LEE H. COOL. CHARLES A. BAIN. 

